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History |
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After writing music manuscripts painstakingly by hand for over twenty years, I decided to "take the plunge" by moving into the twentieth century and learning Finale, a computer-based notation software program. The year was 1993, and my son, Jonathan was just getting ready to begin his freshman year at the University of Evansville. His empty bedroom provided a logical spot for me to work. My set-up consisted of a very slow 386 computer, a new laser printer, an FM-synthesis-driven keyboard, and a dual cassette deck that we had discarded at church because one side would not fast-forward and would often "eat" tapes that we tried to play in it. I went to a local audio/video store that handled used equipment, bought a receiver, and our youth minister gave me two big Panasonic Thruster speakers that he was storing in his garage. And thus began the Back Porch Studio.
I wanted to learn Finale quickly, so I deliberately bought it a couple of weeks before Jonathan was to go to college. At the time I was not only MIDI-ignorant, but pretty well computer-illiterate as well. I had heard horror stories about how long it had taken some of my composer friends to learn Finale, and didn't want to be another casualty. Since anything computer-related had always been second nature to Jonathan, I thought it would be best if he could wade through the manuals and learn enough to teach me the basics. He and I both worked night and day for two or three days - but after a week we had a Finale-engraved manuscript in hand - complete with accompaniment and choral parts. Before long, Jonathan went away to college and left me on my own. I bugged him for a few weeks with questions. In addition to the "empty-nest" syndrome, I also suffered withdrawals from not having in-house help readily available. However, I eventually weaned myself away from his tutelage.
Early in 1994, I bought an 88-note keyboard, a keyboard stand, and a Kurzweil MicroPiano sound module. What once fit on the computer desk Jonathan had vacated in his room now had become an expanded corner workstation. I began to become more comfortable with Finale, and used the computer exclusively for music notation. The first major project I completed on Finale was Colors of Christmas, published by Genevox. I also began to dabble in sequencing, thanks to the help and encouragement of my friend and co-writer, Johnny Carr. My first sequencing program was Power Tracks Pro - an amazingly powerful sequencing program for under $30.
By spring, I had taken over most of the free floor space in Jonathan's room. Now I faced a dilemma! Jonathan was coming home for the summer, and bringing all his room back (including his computer, printer, and all the other stuff that was on his desk). There were four options: (1) Ask Jonathan to move into the storage building out in the back yard; (2) Find another space in our house for my set-up; (3) Store all my gear in the attic until Jonathan went back to college; (4) Build an additional room for my studio. After looking at our floor plan, the only way we could expand was to make a room out of the existing back porch. It already had a roof, so all we needed was a floor, walls, and ceiling - and voilą! - an instant room - which we appropriately named the Back Porch Studio. We had a new concrete slab poured for a patio, and moved into the new space in June of 1994.
For awhile, the new room seemed more like a home office rather than a studio - because the music/recording equipment was still rather sparse. However, since I was using the computer, keyboard, and sound modules in my music writing - and was recording tracks to help market unsolicited manuscripts, I found that it was to my advantage (as well as a good tax strategy) to add to the gear.
Slowly, but surely, the Back Porch Studio began to take shape. Before long, I outgrew the new computer desk I had purchased, even after I had taken all of the cabinet doors off and stuffed every available space with equipment held in place by cardboard "wedges" covered in black duct-tape. The next step was to upgrade to a professional keyboard/desk unit and a cabinet where some of the gear could be rack-mounted.
Making these new additions gave the studio a whole new look, and was wonderful for music writing and sequencing. However, the downside to all of this was that the remaining floor space was greatly reduced. When someone would come over to record a vocal demo, they would have to stand in the small strip of flooring between the sofa and the equipment, which was far from ideal.
We decided to add on again in 1997 - almost doubling the size of the studio. We contacted the guy who had originally built the first addition. He knocked out the back wall of the studio, covered the patio area with a new roof line, added walls and a floor - and now we had a much more open, spacious studio. We added a regular desk and computer for office-type work, and moved the sofa into the new space, which is primarily used for vocal recording. One neat things is that all of the equipment is accessible through doors in a half-wall (see photos). This alone was worth the cost of the addition Rather than pour another concrete patio, this time we built a new deck that is accessible from our family room, and Janis calls that her "room," especially in the summer.
Since 1997, I've added more equipment, and the studio keeps growing. I've moved up from the original 386 computer to two Pentium-4 computers with amazing speed and processing power. For the "techies" out there who are in interested in this stuff, there are specifics on almost every piece of the studio gear on the "Equipment" page.
The year 2000 was the first year that a recording produced here in the Back Porch Studio was distributed nationally. Monarch Music, a division of the Lorenz Corporation, published a companion CD of MIDI orchestrations I recorded of my arrangements in the piano collection To Trust in Jesus. This CD includes a "fully-orchestrated" set as well as an additional set of tracks without the keyboard. Now other pianists can play along with my MIDI "orchestra."
In 2001, Julia Tsien, a dear friend and concert pianist from Chicago, recorded her first CD of hymn arrangements at our church here in Franklin. I took her recording and arranged MIDI orchestration for each selection. The CD, entitled Himself was released by the Chinese-based Christian Life Press in Chicago, and many CDs have been sent to China, where we are hoping it will be copied and distributed widely to encourage the Christians there, especially those who are persecuted. Who would have ever thought back in 1993 that a CD produced in the Back Porch Studio would be distributed in China?! This was something that only God could have done, and I am so grateful that He opened this additional door of ministry for me.
In addition to the recordings, I also am pleased that several publishers have been able to use my Finale typesetting in lieu of hiring an outside engraver. One company asked me to do all of the editing here - and used what I sent them as their master!
To close out this section, I want to thank God for giving me the dream of having my own studio and helping make that dream come true. Without trying to sound super-spiritual, this is His studio. He's helped me make some incredibly good choices along the way - choices that I was not educated enough to make otherwise. "Soli Deo Gloria," ("To God alone, the glory") Bach's personal expression of devotion, signed at the end of all of his manuscripts, is how I feel about this studio.
I want to thank my best friend Johnny Carr who God placed in my life in 1984. He and Jenny moved to Franklin to get closer to Christian music publishers in Nashville. Johnny was and is an incredibly gifted composer and lyricist - but needed an arranger! He opened up Shepherdsong Studio in the backwoods of Simpson County - and it was in his log-cabin studio that I learned the basics of MIDI orchestration, although most of the time I would just play the keyboards and he would operate all of the equipment. We spent many, many hours writing songs and recording tracks together. When Johnny left to move back to Augusta, GA, I felt like a part of me had died because I loved creating and recording music with him. However, when I opened my own studio he came up and introduced me to computer sequencing using an amazingly inexpensive software program. Once I began recording my own sequences, I was completely "hooked" and jumped head-first into the waters! Although Johnny is in Augusta, GA, we still maintain a long-distance friendship and have worked together from time to time on various projects. Maybe when we get old(er) and retire we will have more time to write together. However, by that time I may not even know where "middle C" is on the keyboard!!
I want to thank my son, Jonathan, who helped me learn computer notation - and who continues to be my advisor/computer expert. He also designed (and redesigned) this Back Porch Studio website and eventually made it so that I could edit and update all the content on these pages. Looking back, he probably thinks that is one of the smartest things he's ever done!!
Mark, my other son, designed the Back Porch Studio logo, and helped a lot during the first few years when I was setting up and operating the studio. Mark also had to be my "ears" for several months when I was getting back into recording after my battle with Meniere's Disease, and produced the recording of To Trust in Jesus.
Finally, I want to thank my wife, Janis - who has encouraged me and supported the whole studio idea from the very beginning. Since I am a full-time minister of music, my music writing, arranging, and other projects in the studio have to be done at nights and on weekends. Janis understands that the studio is my "where I live" most of the time when I am home. In 1998 when I was battling Meniere's disease, she stood beside me with unfailing devotion, love, prayers, and encouragement. I honestly don't know how I could have made it through that nightmare year without her. I thank God for her - and thank her for sharing life -- and putting up -- with me these past 37 years. It's been quite a trip!
Thanks for your interest in the history of the Back Porch Studio. If you're still reading you probably have learned a lot more than you really wanted to know -- but thanks for wading through the ramblings above. If you are in the area and like to visit me or the Back Porch Studio, please know that the "Welcome Mat" is always out. Just give me a little advance notice so I can put my shoes on and blow the dust off of some of the equipment that at the moment is in "hibernation!"
- Don
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